Heritage fan

[hoover300]

Did the Kirby 1hd ever have an option for a metal fan? I just got one from Texaskirbyguy and has a very late looking metal fan in it. It looks like a grey plastic fan but is metal. If it is or not, I will keep it in as it makes it very quiet and nice to use.
Thanks!

 

[KirbyCollector01]

The Kirby Heritage didn’t have metal fans. (Take this with a grain of salt) I read that vacuum shops still had metal fans available for a while and made those a cheaper option when replacing the fan.

I am curious, could you post a video of yours?

 

[lesinutah]

Salt

I have a 1982 tradition which came with a metal fan. The heritage and tradition had overlapping years of production. Knowing my tradition which is original metal it probably came with the metal fan.
Les

 

[hoover300]

Cool!

I do not have a Youtube channel so I cannot post it here, but can email the video to anyone who wants it.

 

[human]

If that's the machine I'm thinking of, it was one he rescued last year from the Plano service center. I talked to him about buying it but decided not to, having just acquired two other Kirbys and a Sanitaire. It was likely a trade-in they refurbished to resell, using whatever parts they had on hand to help minimize their cost on it, not that there's anything wrong with that. They were using genuine Kirby parts, after all. Anyway, I'm glad it's got a good home. Enjoy!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Some post-Tradition Kirby machines did have metal fans, but they were not done so by the factory, but rather installed by disgruntled owners who were unimpressed with the performance of the gray Lexan fan.

~Ben

 

[vacman1961]

Here is a little bit of information about the Tradition. The earlier Traditions had a metal fan and also if you read the instruction book it showed how to use the Crystalator. After they changed to Lexan fans, the instruction book no longer showed how to use the Crystalator, it was now called an Air Intake tool. The reason for this was that Paradichlorobenzine, the main ingredient in Moth Crystals or Moth Balls, eats away plastic, the vapor from the moth crystals would disentigrate the Lexan fan. Over the years when I had my Kirby office, I had many older customers that used to vacuum up moth balls, and from them sitting in the Sani Emptor, the moth balls would actually melt the Sani Emptor tray.

 

[lesinutah]

Ben

The tradition I have has a date code April 1982. The metal fan is the original fan on my machine. Out of the 5 traditions I have and had 1 had a metal fan.
My American Lincoln is later. 84 model with lexan fan(now amodel). And tradition 1982 April had a metal fan.
Here's my theory two Kirby manufacring plants. I'm guessing his was made in Texas and the one vacuum owner lived in Galveston Texas.
My theory Cleveland sold slot more Kirby's. They sold out of metal fans faster. The Andrews, Texas sold through there's until they were gone. If you have OEM fans they would have to eat the metal fans and more money would be needed for lexan.
Location, production, inventory caused this.
Les

 

[lesinutah]

2 manuals

We're made for tradition. There is 1969 one with hood safety mechanism. The second was after the repair.
505 had 2 manuals belt cap version and belt lifter version.
You. Already knew this.
I'm starting even with updated manual metal was used until 1983 or so.
Les

 

[hoover300]

Huh

My Heritage is marked February of 1982. The blades are really close together on it like a lexan fan. I can post a pic of it tomorrow.

 

[kirbyklekter]

Does anyone have approximate dates

when these changes took place.I think I've got the order these changes occurred, just curious. So..early Traditions came with metal fans and a manual showing how to use the Crystalator. Then they started using the Lexan fan. How long did they use the lexan fan before problems became apparent, and because they changed the instruction book after the amodel was introduced, was there still any problems with the moth crystals and the sani-emptor. Really interested and hoping to get a time frame around the whole event. Also curious if anyone has seen the damage to either the fan or sani-emptor!

 

[lesinutah]

No

There is no approximate dates. Mine was April 1982.
I'm suggesting the date Ben is giving is what Kirby would be the approximate date. I'm theorizing the Texas plant has no approximate date.
His is Feb 1982 mine is April 1982 and it's the only one of 5 traditions with a metal fan.
If I were to guess May-August 1982 were last kirbys produced in Texas with metal fans.
That's my theory from my vacuum, oldskools vacuum and bens Kirby timeline.
Les

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

LesinUtah

Les,

1981 was the final year the Tradition 3CB was produced and sold.

I too wonder if the Kirby West-produced units were the last ones to use the metal fan...

~Ben

 

[lesinutah]

Ben

I have a April 1982 tradition and a royal 880 April 1982. Ill try to find the tradition but I'm pretty sure you were the one who told me it was April of 82. That's the month and year I was born.
Les
I'll look in archives and see.
Les

 

[lesinutah]

Maybe

I may be wrong but I will look. I am married together 15 years I've been right 4 times. I may be wrong but I'll double check my traditions.
Les

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Wow - this is very interesting...
When I was going through all of these vacs that I got from the Plano shop, I made videos of them as I tested them. I was on camera scratching my head at this particular unit, poking at the fan, trying to figure out what it was. Came to find out it was metal. I had to replace the power switch on this one to make it work.

The Heritage II Legend that I tested right after blew up its grey fan - a very fun sight!

If I can ever figure out how to post it to youtube I will.